Box top guard



Oct. 28, 1952 ALLEN ET AL 2,615,239

BOX TOP GUARD Filed Oct. 15, 1951 Fig.4

Paul M. Allen Glaire M Allefl INVENTORS.

Patented Oct. 28, 'h'rf BOX TOP GUARD Paul M. Allen and Claire M. Allen, Chicago, Ill.

Application October 15, 1951, Serial No. 251,444

2 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in devices for use in removing or cutting the tops of boxes and the primary object of the present invention is to provide a device that fits over the top of a box and which will slidably and guidingly receive a knife blade to permit cutting of a box top.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a device of the aforementioned character that is composed of two slidably connected clamping members, whereby the device is quickly and readily adjustable for placement over the tops of boxes of various sizes.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a box top guard that is extremely small and compact in structure and which may slidably receive a knife blade in a safe manner.

A still further aim of the present invention is to provide a box top guard that is simple and practical in construction, strong and reliable in use, neat and attractive in appearance, inexpensive to manufacture, and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the present invention in use;

Figure 2 is an end view of the present invention;

Figure 3 is a side view of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal vertical view taken substantially on the plane of section line 4-4 of Figure 2; and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the invention in slightly modified form.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration, there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the numeral l0 represents a channel shaped guide composed of two elongated plate members or clamping members l2 and M.

The end edges of the member l2 are folded upwardly and then inwardly to form two transverse guide channels l6 and I8 that slidably receive the end edges of the plate member I4. The outer side edges of the members 12 and M are provided with depending flanges 20 and 22 that are spaced parallel to each other.

The flanges 20 and 22 are provided with elongated slots 24 and 26 at one of their ends and these slots register with each other and lie on a sectional plane parallel to the plane of either member l2 or [4. The slots are open at one of their ends so that a knife blade B may be slidably received in the slots.

In practical use of the present invention, the channel [0 is placed over the top T of a box Bx and the flanges 2i] and 22 are moved toward each other until they engage opposite sides of the box. Then the blade B is moved through the slots 24 and 26 to cut the top T as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 5 illustrates the invention in modified form. In this embodiment, the one piece channel is indicated by Illa and includes a flat web portion I20, and spaced leg portions or flanges 20a and 220. that are joined by the web portion. The flanges 20a and '22a are formed with slots 24a and 26a at one of their ends that register with each other.

The device shown in Figure 5 is used similarly to that previously described. However, the one piece channel Illa is constructed for use with a particular size of box whereas the adjustable channel I!) may be employed with boxes of various sizes.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of the construction, operation and advantages of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed 7 as new is:

l. A device placeable over the top of a box to slidably guide a knife employed for cutting the top from the box, said device comprising a chanand a pair of spaced parallel leg portions joined by said web portion, said leg portions each having a slot at one of their ends, said slots registering with each other and lying in a plane paral lel to the plane of the web portion.

2. A device placeable over the top of a box to slidably guide a knife employed for cutting the top from the box, said device comprising a pair of elongated fiat plate members each having a pair of end edges and-a pair of side edges, the end edges of one of said members being folded upwardly and downwardly to form channels slid- 3 ably receiving the end edges of the other member, said members having outer side edges disposed remotely from each other, and flanges depending from said outer side edges and each having a slot at one of their ends, said slots being in registry with each other.

PAUL M. ALLEN.

CLAIRE M. ALLEN.

.REFERENCES CITED Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Burgener Feb. 11, 1936 Cornwall Feb. 15, 1938 Caten Nov. 7, 1939 Eidam Nov. 18, 1941 

